LGBTQ+ History Month

Leann Vergara: Alan Turing 

Alan Turing was a significant figure in the foundations of digital computing. He was born on June 23, 1912, in London, England. He studied mathematics at the University of Cambridge, graduating in 1934. Later, Turing built an abstract computing machine, dubbed the Turing machine, in response to the Entscheidungsproblem, a project that “sought an effective method for solving the fundamental mathematical problem of determining exactly which mathematical statements are provable within a given formal mathematical system and which are not”. In 1936, Turing had proven that the Entscheidungsproblem had no solution, but offered that his machine could be a replacement—it could compute everything that was humanly computable, like a large calculator. At this point, WWII broke out, and Turing joined the Government Code and Cypher School to support Britain during the war by breaking enigmas. His role in cracking the German Enigma code is depicted in The Imitation Game, which stars Benedict Cumberbatch as Turing. Following the war, Turing continued to design electronic computers and helped lead an early hypothesis on artificial intelligence, but was prevented from rejoining GCHQ when he was convicted of “gross indecency”, which was what homosexuality used to be labeled, in March 1952. He later passed in 1954, and his death was dubbed a suicide—though many attribute his death to the hormone treatment for being gay that was given to him post-trial. Though he passed in an unfortunate way, it is important to remember the technological legacy he left, which the authorities could not strip from him.

Sara Gamini: Christine Jorgensen 

Christine Jorgensen was born on May 30, 1926, in the Bronx, New York. Growing up, she struggled with her identity, wanting to act and dress like a girl despite being assigned male at birth. After graduating from high school, she was drafted into the U.S. military to fight in World War II and served for a year before moving to Denmark. Over the course of two years, she was able to become one of the first people to undergo gender reassignment surgery successfully. She chose the name Christine in honor of her surgeon, Dr. Christian Hamburger. Afterward, she became an instant celebrity despite wanting to keep her transition private; she made headlines, and reporters swarmed her to the point of needing a police escort. She received many insults and ignorant comments, but she used that attention to advocate for transgender and nonbinary people. After she rose to fame, she became a nightclub performer and traveled the world, often appearing on college campuses and talk shows. In 1959, Christine and her fiancé applied for a marriage license in New York City, but were denied because Christine’s birth certificate still listed her as male, and same sex marriage was not legal at the time. After this incident, she never married. In 1967, she published her autobiography—which also touched on her struggles with depression— and used it to argue for transgender people and anyone who fell outside of societal norms. Sadly, she was diagnosed with bladder and lung cancer in 1987, and died two years later on May 3, in San Clemente, California.

Sophia Rasson: Laverne Cox

Laverne Cox was born in Mobile, Alabama. Growing up, she was raised by her single mother and grandmother, accompanied by her twin brother. She felt a sense of isolation, as she was made fun of for not acting the way someone assigned male at birth was “supposed to act." Despite this, she transferred to Marymount Manhattan College, where she pursued acting. Her career took off when she starred in her own show, TRANSform Me, making Cox the first African-American transgender woman as the main character. Cox also acted in numerous TV shows and films, like Bored to Death and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. In 2013, Cox had a recurring role in the Netflix series Orange Is the New Black. Her character was once one who could be personally related to as a transgender person.  In 2017, Cox then shifted her life towards business and began a job as one of the first transgender attorneys. Shortly after, her acting was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series for her role in Orange Is the New Black. Her acting was able to bring attention to the importance of having trans representation in movies and shows. Cox also advocated for trans rights, and her acting demonstrated her opinions through her powerful choices and career. Cox created a public understanding of LGBTQ rights and equality, breaking barriers in the entertainment industry. 

Khoi Crow: Monica Helms

Monica Helms is most notably known for the creation of the transgender flag, which was originally made as a play on the colors of the American flag. She is a U.S. veteran, serving in the Navy for eight years and being assigned to two ships during her time in the military. She left in 1996, transitioning to female and becoming the first transgender woman to join the United States Submarine Veterans, Inc. The trans pride flag was first created in 2000 and was flown in a pride parade in Arizona that same year. She founded and subsequently became the president of the Transgender American Veterans Association. They sponsored the first transgender veterans march on the wall. Her original flag was donated to the Smithsonian museum, where it resides today. She is still advocating for transgender rights to this day. 

Gianna Marie Montesclaros: Frida Kahlo

Frida Kahlo (July 6, 1907-July 13,1954) was a Mexican painter whose bold self-portraits and unapologetic individuality made her one of the most influential artists of the twentieth century. Known for her deeply emotional and symbolic paintings, Frida often explored themes of pain, identity, and resilience. She drew from her experiences with chronic illness, a near-fatal bus accident, and her tumultuous marriage to fellow artist Diego Rivera. Beyond her art, Frida Kahlo is celebrated as an important figure in both feminist and LGBTQ+ history. She was openly bisexual during a time when it was considered improper and was restricted by society at the time. She had relationships with both men and women, and she used her art to express the fluidity of gender and sexuality. Frida’s openness about her identity and her refusal to conform to societal expectations helped pave the way for future generations in the LGBTQ+ community. Her courage to live authentically—even when it defied cultural norms— made her not only a revolutionary artist, but also a symbol of self-expression, empowerment, and pride. Today, Frida Kahlo is remembered for her iconic art and her lasting influence on queer visibility and the right to live and love freely.